OlyCAP honors senior volunteers across the peninsula

By Matthew Nash • March 14, 2018 1:30 am
Volunteers with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) gather for a photo on March 8 at a special luncheon honoring their efforts. Between Clallam and Jefferson counties, more than 200 volunteers help deliver food to homebound seniors, tutors in schools and much more through the program for those 52 and up. Sequim Gazette photos by Matthew Nash
Volunteers with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) gather for a photo on March 8 at a special luncheon honoring their efforts. Between Clallam and Jefferson counties, more than 200 volunteers help deliver food to homebound seniors, tutors in schools and much more through the program for those 52 and up. Sequim Gazette photos by Matthew Nash

Tutors, drivers, food bank volunteers and more were honored at a recent luncheon hosted by Olympic Community Action Programs, OlyCAP, in Sequim.

More than 40 of 200-plus dedicated volunteers with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, RSVP, of Clallam and Jefferson Counties attended the March 8 event at the Guy Cole Events Center in Carrie Blake Community Park.

OlyCAP staff commended the RSVP volunteers for providing more than 27,000 hours of service to the Senior Corps program in the last year.

Sequim’s Olympic Peninsula Academy students from intermediate guitar and choir (grades six-12) classes and the school’s upcoming June production of “Mary Poppins Jr” performed several songs as a thank you to volunteers. A raffle was held including a computer and flowers.

Some of RSVP’s volunteer opportunities include tutoring students from preschool-12th grade, driving meals and/or medical supplies, performing chores for disabled and/or homebound seniors, supporting Port Angeles or Jefferson County Food Banks, and providing event or in-home support to veterans and their families.

RSVP began in 1972 between the counties to connect senior members to local organizations who need them most. It’s sponsored by OlyCAP and receives federal funding from the Corporation of National and Community Service and the State of Washington Department of Commerce.

RSVP is also part of Senior Corps, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency for volunteering, service, and civic engagement.

Senior Corps’ next local event is in April with RSVP members encouraged to clean up a portion of Memorial Park in Port Angeles or participate in Washington Coastal Beach Cleanup Day for Jefferson County volunteers.

Those ages 52-and-up interested in volunteering with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), can call OlyCAP at 360-385-2571 or Jane Covella,RSVP program manager at jcovella@olycap.org.

DeeDee Nielsen, instructional coach at Olympic Peninsula Academy, leads Olympic Peninsula Academy students in a song at OlyCAP’s appreciation luncheon on March 8 for volunteers ages 52 and up. Students in the intermediate guitar class, choir, and upcoming “Mary Poppins Jr” production sang and performed several songs for the crowd.

DeeDee Nielsen, instructional coach at Olympic Peninsula Academy, leads Olympic Peninsula Academy students in a song at OlyCAP’s appreciation luncheon on March 8 for volunteers ages 52 and up. Students in the intermediate guitar class, choir, and upcoming “Mary Poppins Jr” production sang and performed several songs for the crowd.